Sostratus

Sostratus is a Greek given name borne by several figures in ancient history. The most widely attested bearer is Sostratus of Cnidus, an architect and engineer active in the Hellenistic period and associated with the Pharos of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Sostratus of Cnidus is traditionally dated to the late 4th or 3rd century BCE. He is credited with the design of the Pharos, the lighthouse built on Pharos Island at the harbor of Alexandria during the Ptolemaic era. According to ancient sources, the project was commissioned by Ptolemy II Philadelphus. A famous anecdote, reported by later writers such as Vitruvius, claims that Sostratus secretly carved his name on the foundation to claim authorship, while the king’s name was later placed in the inscription to credit the project to the ruler. The reliability of this story is uncertain, and some scholars treat it as a later tradition rather than a firm historical fact. Regardless of the embellishment, Sostratus is generally regarded as closely linked to the lighthouse’s early concept or design, with the structure itself attributed to the Ptolemaic period.

Other individuals named Sostratus are mentioned in ancient texts but are less well documented, and their identities and deeds remain obscure. The name itself was not uncommon in the ancient Greek world, and surviving references to other Sostratus figures are sparse and provide little reliable information.